Sotto pushes for more lenient auditing procedures on emergency cash aid

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III is pushing for more lenient procedures on the distribution of emergency cash aid to indigent families affected by the coronavirus crisis.

The Senate President suggested that the rules and regulations should not be too strict as families may be starving.

“Ang suggestion ko lang…yung mga pamilyang hindi nakalista, ibigay na rin kahit hindi nakalista. Kasi nga kulang yung listahan. That’s what I mean, yung mgahindi nakalista doon, tapos nagrereklamo nga sa baba binigyan na raw ng form, ang dinig daw, wala pa ring nangyari,” he said in an interview with DZBB on Sunday.

There have been reports that the distribution of cash aid, which ranges from P5,000 to P8,000, to qualified beneficiaries, had been facing delays in some areas.

“Sabi ko throw the rules out of the window, pagka ganito na kailangan, nagugutom ang mga kababayan natin, tapos sabi ko kausapin ninyo muna si Chairman Aguinaldo ng COA (Commission on Audit), sabi ko huwag muna higpitan,” Sotto said.

“Iba ito. Kung baga sa giyera, ang nangyayari sa giyera, ang Pilipino handang magpakamatay para sa bansa di ba? Pero ito, hindi giyera ito, baliktad ito. Mamamatay yung bansa,” he added.

/MUF